EUROPE

STOCKS rose for a second day yesterday as a report showed German investor confidence advanced for the first time this year.

The Stoxx Europe 600 index climbed 0.6 percent to 339.3 at the close of trading in London. It has rebounded 9.4 percent from this year’s low on October 16 as the Bank of Japan unexpectedly boosted its stimulus and most lenders in Europe passed capitalstrength tests.

The ZEW Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim said yesterday its index of investor and analyst expectations rose to 11.5 in November from minus 3.6 in October. The gauge aims to predict economic developments six months in advance.

The Stoxx 600 rose 0.5 percent on Monday as Mario Draghi (Europe Central Bank governor) said the central bank’s expanded purchase programme could include government bonds.

Stocks moved higher earlier yesterday after UK data showed inflation unexpectedly accelerated. – Bloomberg